Tokyo MoU issues PSC Annual Report for 2016

TIN news:  The Tokyo MOU has issued its Annual Report on Port State Control in the Asia-Pacific Region for 2016. This annual report is the twenty-second issue and covers port State control activities and developments in the 2016 calendar year.

Specifically, the Port State Control Committee, established under the Memorandum, monitors and controls the implementation and on-going operation of the Memorandum.

Review of 2016

The Tokyo MOU conducted a concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) on Cargo Securing Arrangements from 1 September to 30 November 2016. During the CIC period, a total of 8,367 PSC inspections were carried out by the member Authorities. 19 ships were detained as a result of deficiencies found during the CIC, which represents a CIC detention percentage of 0.45% much lower than the overall detention percentage of 3.23% for the same period.  There were 499 or 11.7% inspections resulted in deficiencies being issued for Cargo Securing Arrangements. The general results of the CIC demonstrated a high level of compliance with Cargo Securing Arrangements by the industry. Regional PSC regimes of the Black Sea MOU, the Indian Ocean MOU and the Viña del Mar Agreement also joined the CIC.

During 2016, the number of under-performing ships continuously decreased. This positive outcome is illustrative of effective implementation of the relevant measures targeting under-performing ships in the region. Comparing with the beginning of introduction of the measures targeting under-performing ships, both the numbers of under-performing ships listed and individual ships involved have declined up to 70% approximately. These

results unequivocally demonstrate that the measures put in place to target under-performing ships are appropriate and the implementation of these measures is effective. It is also encouraging that, in addition to the Tokyo MOU, similar approaches have been introduced and implemented in the Black Sea MOU and the Indian Ocean MOU regions.

After more than ten years since its adoption, conditions for entry into force of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM) were finally met on 8 September 2016. The BWM Convention will become effective on 8 September 2017.

Inspections

In 2016, 31,678 inspections, involving 17,503 individual ships, were carried out on ships registered under 101 flags. Out of 31,678 inspections, there were 18,943 inspections where ships were found with deficiencies. Since the total number of individual ships operating in the region was estimated at 24,744, the inspection rate in the region was approximately 71% in 2016.

Detentions

In 2016, 1,090 ships registered under 69 flags were detained due to serious deficiencies having been found onboard. The detention rate of ships inspected was 3.44%. Both the number of detentions and detention percentage has decreased continuously.

The number of flags on the grey list increased from 17 to 20 during the reporting period. The white list decreased from 36 to 34 flags. A list of under-performing ships (i.e. ships detained three or more times during previous twelve months) is published monthly. A total of 119 vessels, involving 31 individual ships, were identified as under-performing ships in 2016. 

Deficiencies

A total of 81,271 deficiencies were recorded in 2016.  It has been noted that fire safety measures, safety of navigation and life-saving appliances continue to be the top three categories of deficiencies discovered on ships. In 2016, 14,960 deficiencies related to fire safety measures, 12,207 safety of navigation related deficiencies and 10,981 deficiencies related to life-saving appliances were recorded, representing nearly 50% of the total number of

all recorded deficiencies.

In 2016, deficiencies reduced 2,335 in number or 2.79% by percentage. The major reduction is found in categories of fire safety and safety of navigation. Deficiencies relating to labour conditions/MLC increased continuously since its entry into force. In connection with the CIC on Cargo Securing Arrangements, deficiencies recorded on cargo operations and equipment is more than doubled of previous year.

Further information may be found by reading the full report: